240:. "The Oldness" and "Chimneys Afire" were written by a band member Stewart fired, with the latter song about the author's attempted suicide during Xiu Xiu's tour. "Hi" is "about trying to find beauty and company in the realization that life, for the most part in incredibly difficult and that pretending otherwise only adds disappointment to hardship," while "Born to Suffer" is "about the potential for relief in ending one's own life, even just the thought of it, being mortified by life and about the
321:
389:
384:
379:
374:
369:
316:
311:
306:
301:
449:
444:
439:
434:
429:
492:'s Tuyet Nguyen gave the album a grade of "B+," writing "Jamie Stewart is definitely a bummer. A of few positive affirmations, continue to be recursive, dispirited, antagonized, and bitter. wily charm is that they're endearingly so. They open old wounds with the grace of a jagged knife, and the catharsis feels great."
510:
contributor Carrie Batton also agreed in an otherwise positive review, writing "The difficulty for both casual and hardcore fans is that the receptors attuned to the Xiu Xiu experience have become desensitized, so that when a new album comes along, you have to ask yourself: Why should I even bother
499:
criticized the album for rehashing the sound and lyrical matters of earlier Xiu Xiu albums, writing "So here's a sad truth about people: once they understand the tactics you're using to get your message across, the message loses its impact if you still attempt to approach them from that angle. Xiu
251:
also contained some social commentary. "I Luv
Abortion" is about a young friend of Stewart's who decided to get an abortion because she felt she would not be a good parent if she had the baby, and most of the song's lyrics are taken from a series of e-mails between the two. "Factory Girl" is about
478:
also praised the album, writing "Xiu Xiu has been around for a while, but it is less a band or a trend that can fade with time than a critical germ cultivated and fed from within mainstream
America. Such ugliness is for always." In another positive review, Heather Phares of
29:
487:
was made with Xiu Xiu's devoted fans in mind, since these catchy, desperate, searing, and searching songs aren't always the most accessible, but they show exactly why this band has such a dedicated audience."
1263:
1419:
953:
1373:
1501:
224:
The songs "Beauty Towne" and "Black Drum
Machine" revisited subjects from earlier Xiu Xiu songs. "Beauty Towne" revisited the subjects of "
924:
1223:
1100:
1079:
729:
233:
253:
1398:
1328:
1496:
903:
496:
339:
1347:
1239:
1167:
237:
1491:
1207:
1199:
229:
147:
1231:
1247:
1072:
241:
1486:
1405:
1320:
800:
165:
108:
1450:
1183:
976:
814:
506:
397:
1391:
1412:
899:
256:
from rural areas to factories, and the harsh treatment they received working in the factories.
998:
1465:
1455:
1175:
1065:
784:
350:
225:
928:
472:
gave the album a perfect score, calling it Xiu Xiu's finest album to date. Ed
Comentale of
1444:
1134:
1015:
796:
469:
361:
121:
1028:
1044:
1114:
875:
847:
705:
687:
474:
420:
213:
1480:
1460:
1301:
1191:
880:
489:
329:
971:
780:
465:, the album has a score of 78 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
28:
1255:
822:
711:
283:
209:
126:
103:
1355:
113:
75:
1282:
1159:
1142:
1107:
1032:
723:
717:
696:
462:
408:
201:
1048:
851:
480:
293:
205:
80:
1426:
1088:
186:
134:
41:
461:
has received mostly positive reviews. On the review aggregate site
36:
1061:
781:
Always: Xiu Xiu: Jamie
Stewart offers a track by track guide
1057:
1264:
13" Frank
Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips
236:'s brother, while "Gul Mudin" was dedicated to the title
228:", while "Black Drum Machine" finished the narrative to "
495:
Not all critics were entirely positive. Chris Bosman of
1436:
1420:
A Soundtrack for a
Polaroid of Two Trees in Indiana
1383:
1366:
1339:
1312:
1293:
1274:
1151:
530:
522:
133:
120:
102:
86:
74:
48:
35:
21:
204:to Xiu Xiu's lineup. The album was produced by
775:
773:
771:
426:
1073:
947:
945:
8:
787:. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
366:
298:
965:
963:
500:Xiu has been doing exactly what they do on
1080:
1066:
1058:
841:
839:
263:
27:
18:
870:
868:
519:
767:
1010:
1008:
605:"Chimney's Afire (Mickensian Suicide)"
893:
891:
269:
7:
675:The following people contributed to
428:
813:Harkins, Dustin (March 27, 2012).
232:". "Joey's Song" was dedicated to
14:
970:Battan, Carrie (March 14, 2012).
952:Price, Simon (26 February 2012).
504:for ten years and nine LPs now."
368:
300:
189:, released on February 28, 2012.
900:"Album Review: Xiu Xiu - Always"
447:
442:
437:
432:
427:
387:
382:
377:
372:
367:
319:
314:
309:
304:
299:
16:2012 studio album by Xiu Xiu
898:Bosman, Chris (March 5, 2012).
523:
185:is the eighth studio album by
1:
1329:Plays the Music of Twin Peaks
1502:Polyvinyl Record Co. albums
1051:. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
254:migration of women in China
52:February 28, 2012
1518:
1035:. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
748:Jason Martin - Cover Photo
1240:Girl with Basket of Fruit
1224:Angel Guts: Red Classroom
1095:
1029:Critic Reviews for Always
925:"Drowned in Sound review"
693:John Dieterich - Composer
656:
645:
634:
623:
612:
601:
590:
579:
568:
557:
546:
535:
527:
277:
274:
141:
26:
954:"The Independent review"
803:Retrieved 16 March 2012.
751:Damion Ross - Tattoo Art
745:Alan Douches - Mastering
1208:Dear God, I Hate Myself
1016:"Tiny Mix Tapes review"
742:John Congleton - Mixing
702:Sam Mickens - Composer
148:Dear God, I Hate Myself
62:March 6, 2012
876:"The A.V. Club review"
1406:Remixed & Covered
1374:with The Dead Science
757:Stu Watson - Engineer
483:wrote "It's apt that
1348:Chapel of the Chimes
801:Polyvinyl Record Co.
754:Joe Stewart - Design
737:Additional personnel
732:- Composer, Engineer
714:- Composer, Producer
660:"Black Drum Machine"
511:to listen to this?"
265:Professional ratings
999:"PopMatters review"
266:
242:earthquake in Haiti
1497:Bella Union albums
1275:Compilation albums
848:"Always - Xiu Xiu"
264:
200:saw the return of
1474:
1473:
972:"Xiu Xiu: Always"
846:Phares, Heather.
667:
666:
649:"Smear the Queen"
456:
455:
178:
177:
174:
173:
1509:
1466:The Dead Science
1456:The Dead Science
1437:Related articles
1176:Fabulous Muscles
1082:
1075:
1068:
1059:
1052:
1045:Always - Credits
1042:
1036:
1026:
1020:
1019:
1012:
1003:
1002:
995:
989:
988:
986:
984:
967:
958:
957:
949:
940:
939:
937:
936:
927:. Archived from
921:
915:
914:
912:
910:
904:Beats Per Minute
895:
886:
885:
872:
863:
862:
860:
858:
843:
834:
833:
831:
829:
810:
804:
797:Xiu Xiu - Always
794:
788:
777:
627:"Born to Suffer"
583:"I Luv Abortion"
525:
520:
497:Beats Per Minute
452:
451:
450:
446:
445:
441:
440:
436:
435:
431:
430:
392:
391:
390:
386:
385:
381:
380:
376:
375:
371:
370:
351:Drowned in Sound
340:Beats Per Minute
324:
323:
322:
318:
317:
313:
312:
308:
307:
303:
302:
267:
143:
142:
98:
97:
93:
69:
67:
59:
57:
31:
19:
1517:
1516:
1512:
1511:
1510:
1508:
1507:
1506:
1477:
1476:
1475:
1470:
1445:Accordion Solo!
1432:
1379:
1362:
1335:
1308:
1289:
1270:
1200:Women as Lovers
1147:
1135:Caralee McElroy
1125:Jherek Bischoff
1091:
1086:
1056:
1055:
1043:
1039:
1027:
1023:
1014:
1013:
1006:
997:
996:
992:
982:
980:
969:
968:
961:
951:
950:
943:
934:
932:
923:
922:
918:
908:
906:
897:
896:
889:
884:. 6 March 2012.
874:
873:
866:
856:
854:
845:
844:
837:
827:
825:
812:
811:
807:
795:
791:
779:Murray, Robin.
778:
769:
764:
739:
684:
673:
668:
517:
470:The Independent
468:Simon Price of
448:
443:
438:
433:
388:
383:
378:
373:
362:The Independent
320:
315:
310:
305:
262:
222:
195:
169:
160:
151:
112:
95:
91:
90:
65:
63:
61:
55:
53:
44:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1515:
1513:
1505:
1504:
1499:
1494:
1492:Xiu Xiu albums
1489:
1479:
1478:
1472:
1471:
1469:
1468:
1463:
1458:
1453:
1448:
1440:
1438:
1434:
1433:
1431:
1430:
1423:
1416:
1413:¿Spicchiology?
1409:
1402:
1395:
1387:
1385:
1384:Collaborations
1381:
1380:
1378:
1377:
1370:
1368:
1367:Split releases
1364:
1363:
1361:
1360:
1352:
1343:
1341:
1337:
1336:
1334:
1333:
1325:
1316:
1314:
1313:Tribute albums
1310:
1309:
1307:
1306:
1297:
1295:
1291:
1290:
1288:
1287:
1278:
1276:
1272:
1271:
1269:
1268:
1260:
1252:
1244:
1236:
1228:
1220:
1212:
1204:
1196:
1188:
1180:
1172:
1164:
1155:
1153:
1149:
1148:
1146:
1145:
1140:
1137:
1132:
1131:Cory McCulloch
1129:
1126:
1123:
1122:Lauren Andrews
1119:
1118:
1115:David Kendrick
1111:
1104:
1096:
1093:
1092:
1087:
1085:
1084:
1077:
1070:
1062:
1054:
1053:
1037:
1021:
1004:
990:
959:
941:
916:
887:
864:
835:
805:
789:
766:
765:
763:
760:
759:
758:
755:
752:
749:
746:
743:
738:
735:
734:
733:
727:
721:
715:
709:
706:Zac Pennington
703:
700:
694:
691:
688:Carla Bozulich
683:
680:
672:
669:
665:
664:
661:
658:
654:
653:
650:
647:
643:
642:
639:
638:"Factory Girl"
636:
632:
631:
628:
625:
621:
620:
617:
614:
610:
609:
606:
603:
599:
598:
595:
592:
588:
587:
584:
581:
577:
576:
573:
570:
566:
565:
562:
561:"Beauty Towne"
559:
555:
554:
551:
548:
544:
543:
540:
537:
533:
532:
529:
526:
518:
516:
513:
475:Tiny Mix Tapes
454:
453:
424:
421:Tiny Mix Tapes
416:
415:
412:
404:
403:
400:
394:
393:
364:
358:
357:
354:
346:
345:
342:
336:
335:
332:
326:
325:
296:
290:
289:
286:
280:
279:
276:
272:
271:
261:
258:
230:Black Keyboard
221:
220:Lyrical themes
218:
214:John Congleton
194:
191:
176:
175:
172:
171:
162:
153:
139:
138:
131:
130:
124:
118:
117:
106:
100:
99:
88:
84:
83:
78:
72:
71:
50:
46:
45:
40:
33:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1514:
1503:
1500:
1498:
1495:
1493:
1490:
1488:
1485:
1484:
1482:
1467:
1464:
1462:
1461:Former Ghosts
1459:
1457:
1454:
1452:
1449:
1447:
1446:
1442:
1441:
1439:
1435:
1429:
1428:
1424:
1422:
1421:
1417:
1415:
1414:
1410:
1408:
1407:
1403:
1401:
1400:
1396:
1394:
1393:
1389:
1388:
1386:
1382:
1375:
1372:
1371:
1369:
1365:
1358:
1357:
1353:
1350:
1349:
1345:
1344:
1342:
1338:
1331:
1330:
1326:
1323:
1322:
1318:
1317:
1315:
1311:
1304:
1303:
1302:Life and Live
1299:
1298:
1296:
1292:
1285:
1284:
1280:
1279:
1277:
1273:
1266:
1265:
1261:
1258:
1257:
1253:
1250:
1249:
1245:
1242:
1241:
1237:
1234:
1233:
1229:
1226:
1225:
1221:
1218:
1217:
1213:
1210:
1209:
1205:
1202:
1201:
1197:
1194:
1193:
1192:The Air Force
1189:
1186:
1185:
1181:
1178:
1177:
1173:
1170:
1169:
1165:
1162:
1161:
1157:
1156:
1154:
1152:Studio albums
1150:
1144:
1141:
1138:
1136:
1133:
1130:
1127:
1124:
1121:
1120:
1117:
1116:
1112:
1110:
1109:
1105:
1103:
1102:
1101:Jamie Stewart
1098:
1097:
1094:
1090:
1083:
1078:
1076:
1071:
1069:
1064:
1063:
1060:
1050:
1046:
1041:
1038:
1034:
1030:
1025:
1022:
1017:
1011:
1009:
1005:
1000:
994:
991:
979:
978:
973:
966:
964:
960:
955:
948:
946:
942:
931:on 2012-02-25
930:
926:
920:
917:
905:
901:
894:
892:
888:
883:
882:
881:The A.V. Club
877:
871:
869:
865:
853:
849:
842:
840:
836:
824:
820:
818:
809:
806:
802:
798:
793:
790:
786:
782:
776:
774:
772:
768:
761:
756:
753:
750:
747:
744:
741:
740:
736:
731:
730:Jamie Stewart
728:
725:
722:
719:
716:
713:
710:
707:
704:
701:
698:
695:
692:
689:
686:
685:
681:
679:
678:
670:
662:
659:
655:
651:
648:
644:
640:
637:
633:
629:
626:
622:
618:
615:
611:
607:
604:
600:
596:
594:"The Oldness"
593:
589:
585:
582:
578:
574:
572:"Honeysuckle"
571:
567:
563:
560:
556:
552:
550:"Joey's Song"
549:
545:
541:
538:
534:
521:
515:Track listing
514:
512:
509:
508:
503:
498:
493:
491:
490:The A.V. Club
486:
482:
477:
476:
471:
466:
464:
460:
425:
423:
422:
418:
417:
413:
411:
410:
406:
405:
401:
399:
396:
395:
365:
363:
360:
359:
355:
353:
352:
348:
347:
343:
341:
338:
337:
333:
331:
330:The A.V. Club
328:
327:
297:
295:
292:
291:
287:
285:
282:
281:
273:
270:Review scores
268:
259:
257:
255:
250:
247:The songs on
245:
243:
239:
235:
234:Jamie Stewart
231:
227:
219:
217:
215:
212:and mixed by
211:
207:
203:
199:
192:
190:
188:
184:
183:
168:
167:
163:
159:
158:
154:
150:
149:
145:
144:
140:
136:
132:
128:
125:
123:
119:
115:
110:
107:
105:
101:
89:
85:
82:
79:
77:
73:
51:
47:
43:
38:
34:
30:
25:
20:
1443:
1425:
1418:
1411:
1404:
1397:
1392:Ciautistico!
1390:
1354:
1346:
1327:
1319:
1300:
1281:
1262:
1256:Ignore Grief
1254:
1246:
1238:
1230:
1222:
1215:
1214:
1206:
1198:
1190:
1182:
1174:
1166:
1158:
1113:
1106:
1099:
1040:
1024:
993:
981:. Retrieved
975:
933:. Retrieved
929:the original
919:
907:. Retrieved
879:
855:. Retrieved
826:. Retrieved
823:AbsolutePunk
816:
808:
792:
712:Greg Saunier
676:
674:
505:
501:
494:
484:
473:
467:
458:
457:
419:
407:
349:
284:AbsolutePunk
248:
246:
226:Clowne Towne
223:
210:Greg Saunier
197:
196:
181:
180:
179:
164:
156:
155:
146:
127:Greg Saunier
37:Studio album
1487:2012 albums
1451:Discography
1356:Tu Mi Piaci
1294:Live albums
1139:Sam Mickens
1128:Yvonne Chen
815:"Xiu Xiu -
616:"Gul Mudin"
129:and Xiu Xiu
114:Bella Union
70:(worldwide)
1481:Categories
1283:Fag Patrol
1160:Knife Play
1143:Ches Smith
1108:Angela Seo
1033:Metacritic
935:2012-02-27
762:References
726:- Composer
724:Ches Smith
720:- Composer
718:Angela Seo
708:- Composer
699:- Composer
697:Devin Hoff
690:- Composer
463:Metacritic
409:PopMatters
202:Devin Hoff
137:chronology
66:2012-03-06
56:2012-02-28
1399:Creepshow
1168:A Promise
983:March 16,
977:Pitchfork
956:. London.
909:March 16,
857:March 16,
682:Musicians
671:Personnel
507:Pitchfork
398:Pitchfork
260:Reception
193:Recording
109:Polyvinyl
1184:La Forêt
1049:Allmusic
852:AllMusic
828:April 4,
481:AllMusic
294:AllMusic
206:Deerhoof
122:Producer
81:Art rock
60:(UK/EU)
49:Released
39: by
1427:Merzxiu
1089:Xiu Xiu
677:Always:
187:Xiu Xiu
170:(2013)
161:(2012)
152:(2010)
135:Xiu Xiu
116:(UK/EU)
64: (
54: (
42:Xiu Xiu
1376:(2005)
1359:(2006)
1351:(2002)
1332:(2016)
1324:(2013)
1305:(2005)
1286:(2003)
1267:(2024)
1259:(2023)
1251:(2021)
1243:(2019)
1235:(2017)
1232:Forget
1227:(2014)
1219:(2012)
1216:Always
1211:(2010)
1203:(2008)
1195:(2006)
1187:(2005)
1179:(2004)
1171:(2003)
1163:(2002)
817:Always
531:Length
502:Always
485:Always
459:Always
414:(7/10)
402:7.3/10
278:Rating
275:Source
249:Always
238:person
198:Always
182:Always
157:Always
87:Length
22:Always
1248:Oh No
785:Clash
528:Title
111:(US)
104:Label
76:Genre
1321:Nina
985:2012
911:2012
859:2012
830:2012
663:4:34
652:3:19
641:2:21
630:3:23
619:2:25
608:2:43
597:3:25
586:2:32
575:3:12
564:2:40
553:3:36
542:3:37
539:"Hi"
356:9/10
288:9/10
252:the
166:Nina
1340:EPs
657:12.
646:11.
635:10.
524:No.
344:45%
244:."
208:'s
1483::
1047:.
1031:.
1007:^
974:.
962:^
944:^
902:.
890:^
878:.
867:^
850:.
838:^
821:.
799:.
783:.
770:^
624:9.
613:8.
602:7.
591:6.
580:5.
569:4.
558:3.
547:2.
536:1.
334:B+
216:.
96:46
92:37
1081:e
1074:t
1067:v
1018:.
1001:.
987:.
938:.
913:.
861:.
832:.
819:"
94::
68:)
58:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
